A CASE OF PRIMARY TUBERCULOSIS OF THE PALATINE TONSIL

Abstract

This is a report of a case of primary tuberculosis of the palatine tonsil occurring in a 38-year-old female, a house wife, whose initial complaints were sore throat and painful swallowing. It was initially thought to be simple tonsillitis because there was no ulceration or erosion and only slight inflammation.
She was treated with antibiotics but symptoms did not subside. We suspected malignant tumor of the palatine tonsil and started irradiation of ⁶⁰Co, however, biopsy revealed tuberculous granulation of the tonsil. We used anti-tubercular chemoagents SM, PAS, INAH for about two months, followed by tonsillectomy.
The postoperative course was uneventful.
Very few cases of primary tuberculosis of the palatine tonsil are found in the literature.
We cosidered that this was a case of direct infection of the tonsil from foods such as milk.